45 professional event photography tips in 15 minutes
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2024
- Below are my 45 event photography tips:
1. Hold your camera loosely
2. Hook your camera with your fingers
3. Shoot with both eyes
4. use your right eye to frame your shot
5. Use your left eye to time your action
6. Set your camera up so that you do not need to go into the menus.
7. How I set-up my ISO controls
8. Choosing a marketing strategy
9. Old vs new social media platforms
10. retaining clients
11. Don't obsess over gear
12. 5% rule
13. Switching brands
14. Remember this is a business
15. Every other upgrade cycle
16. experimenting with lenses
17. focussing on bread and butter gear
18. engaging with your craft
19. Don't cheap out on stuff like flash or memory cards
20. using two camera bodies
21. batteries and chargers
22. overcoming limitations
23. networking with your peers
24. don't think of your competitors as opponents
25. bring food to a job or get good at fasting
26. never stop learning
27. staying engaged with your craft
28. photographing everyone, focussing on VIPS
29. "over covering" VIPs
30. scanning a room
31. listen for the life of the party
32. don't over linger on a person
33. always shoot with intention
34. Generate 1:1 previews in Lightroom
35. Respect the craft and the profession
36. take and modify what you learn from a mentor
37. shoot often - muscle memory
38. tune out the noise
39. don't limit your sources of inspiration
40. question conventions - find your own way
41. make sure you're insured
42. live below your means
43. don't depend entirely on photography for your income
44 always over dress over under dressing
45. you don't always need to wear black
I have been a professional event photographer and photography teacher in Los Angeles for over 10 years. Follow the links below to see my work.
mikmilman.com
Patreon | / mikmilman
Instagram | @retrograding / retrograding
Facebook | / mikmilman
"Shoot with both of your eyes" ... I've never actually tried this and when I did it was an eye opener (pun intended). Thanks!
Awesome.
Finally a person who speaks with honesty and straight forward. Thank you for sharing these learned tips.
Happy to know you found the channel. Thought I actually responded to this comment a while ago!
Thanks for watching. This was a fun one for me to do. I started off with a few familiar tips you may have heard from me and get into many, many more afterward. All of these tips are also written out in the description! If you enjoy my content and want to support this channel, please consider joining me on Patreon!
www.patreon.com/mikmilman
BRAVO!
Hell, yes, this is a miniature, gold mine, thanks! Just yesterday I had my first day shooting for a new, regular corporate client, and I was feeling a bit nervous about what to wear. I had my blacks ready to put on, but at the last moment, it just didn’t feel right, as that’s not my style. So instead, I threw on my nice jeans and favorite button up shirt with my sleeves rolled up. I showed up at the event, and it turned out I was dressed, in exactly the same style as almost everyone else there. I blended right in and felt like it was super easy to both. Be invisible when I wanted to and also to chat with people and feel very relaxed being on the same level as them when I sometimes got into little conversations. Appreciate your.encouragement to find our own approaches rather than just doing what everyone says you’re supposed to, cheers!
Great no-nonsense tips! Thank you Mik.
Fantastic. I 'only' learned seven new things but each one of them are crazy important. Thank you.
Thanks for so much valuable info in such a short time. Evolution via dissemination of information is peaking!
More coming. Thanks!
Thankyou , there should be more videos like this , focusing in the work rather than the gear 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Absolutely agree about lens and camera comparing talking heads. They mostly do not know how to take good photos, except maybe Jared Polin, but honesty not all clients will be satisfied with his kind of photos :)
How would you describe his kind of photos? Curious!
Awesome tips. I was thinking back to the events I shot. I’m guilty raising the camera to just shoot. Got another event this weekend going shoot with more intent.
Just started following you and love your principles about learning and competition.
Thanks, Joshua. Glad to have you!
Great advice and a great video. So helpful
great work mik, i subscribed and learnt a lot of tips from you...
Wow. Thanks Mik. That's a lot to take in all at once...I'll need to watch it again 😁
:)
And Actually you deserve a lot of subscribers because You give precise and Real informations that wasn't shared by other UA-cam photographers, You helped us a lot in terms of Giving tips. Thanks!
Thank you so much 😀
I really appreciate your videos. I came across them seeking a pep talk before a big shoot and I found them really reassuring. Please keep them up!
Hi Rebecca! I'm not sure how explicitly I've stated it, but one of my objectives is to simply ease people's anxieties when first starting out or going into their first shoot. Tune in on Tuesday. I really think you'll get a lot out of the video publishing.
@@MikMilman thank you! Yes they are definitely helping. I've been shooting for some time but feeling very rusty after a break. Looking forward to the next one
The next one is up now!
Thank you for sharing your experience. We can tell how experienced you are. Very helpful tips, we enjoyed it thoroughly.
Thank you so much.
Always good to watch and rewatch, even a year later. Thanks Mil, the whole thing is great !
I thought I'd be the only one to rest my camera/lens in my folded elbow... seems not ! What it means is : (1) we all have different techniques, but only efficient ones finally last (2) when you think you're weird by doing something, think again you may just be smart or smarter earlier (3) event photography is a real field and it takes high-level skills, it's not just a gap-filling hobby for bored portraitists (4) preparation can be (often is !) key in reaching success, that's what I've been teaching for years (and shall do again tomorrow evening.
😊😊😊
Thanks, this is very helpful 🙇🏻
Thanks, Mik!
You got it. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for sharing! You’re such an inspiration!
That's kind of you to say.
@@MikMilman 🥰
Nice tips man! Recently I’ve shot my jumping daughter indoors with manual 85 f/2 lens at f2 and there were some hits. Then I gave this camera to my wife and she didn’t shot anything because she cant operate with manual lenses without practice. It is very important to practice and to feel the gear.
Best Lightroom tip ever!
Yeah! A surprising amount of people don't seem to know it. Hey, I didn't know at some point and someone else had to tell me why LR was running so slow for me.
Great video man! Subbed!
Thanks for the tips, very informative and easy to understand. Liked and subscribed!
Glad to have you!
Thanks for the tips and the reminders, Mik!
I think newer ones are toward the end. Hope you made it.
@@MikMilman Of course I did! Always happy to digest new, good info!
Love the vid mate. 👍🏽
Thank you
❤️❤️❤️❤️ amazing tips
Thanks, Doc.
Thanks a lot for this sir mik!
Glad you like it!
Hi! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I truly appreciate it, am sort of a bundle of nerves, but I feel I'm clearer now, definitely a video that will be good to go back to when 'stuck in the rut'. Excited to learn more, thank you! Starting out with volunteering for events as a photographer, there is some fear, I look forward to watching more of your videos and open my mind more!
I specifically recommend my event photography checklist video. I think it would help to calm some nerves, pre event.
Yes! I've been binging them, though I ought to practise as well. Hope you have an awesome day! Or night. Haha. Lots of timezones 🙂
I'm currently in Thailand, so morning :)
@@MikMilman cool! 😇 Holiday? I hope you enjoy! I am not exactly a neighbour, I just stay in a nearby country. Have a good day!
Very nice, I enjoy your honesty
I appreciate that!
Thank you
Welcome!
underrated video
thanks for the tips!
Appreciate the feedback.
That's a lot of tips!
:)
Just Subbed. Thank you 🙏🏾
Glad to have you! Most of my videos are longer and more in depth in my tips. Hope you enjoy em'
Supper movie thank you so much.
Absolutely love what you’re saying, especially about the crazy fascination with gear, gear reviews, blah blah. It’s overwhelming how much content there is comparing this, reviewing that. You provide real advice from a real working photographer, which is invaluable. I hope we all get back to it soon, we’re still in lockdown here in melbourne. Anyway, I did want to ask you a specific question, when you’re shooting something like an individual reviewing an award, where there’s the handshake, pose and the award held in front, do you take multiple images, say to avoid blinking eyes? I tend not to, but over the years I have taken a few closed-eye shots, and was planning to start to do this, maybe putting the camera on continuous low or something. Anyway I’d really like your thoughts.
Hey James,
I have a friend in Melbourne. From what she tells me, it sounds like things are pretty bad down there.
In general, I try to shoot with intention. I only press the shutter when I know I've got a moment. It's hard to say for sure, but I think my keeper rate might even be higher than when I shoot a short burst as the moment can happen inbetween shots. Sure, a faster burst would guarantee a keeper, but that would require more editing and be a whole lot less fun. Part of the enjoyment of my work is being engaged with what I do. Good or bad, the more automation, the less engaging it is for me.
All that said, when it comes to a non repeatable and defining moment like someone receiving an award, I do fire off a burst to guaranteed I got the shot. There's no harm in that. What's your concern?
Also, big thank you for your support on Patreon. It means the world to me. I'm really grateful that what I do is starting to reach people.
Hi mate thanks for the reply! Yeah still in lockdown, we’ll hear in Sunday what the roadmap out will look like. I’ve lost 42 jobs but many have lost more. We’ll get through it,. Anyway no real concerns, I just like to ask other pros what they do whenever I get the chance. With things like big corporate events there’s so many sub-moments and each one could have its own set of techniques. I’m really just trying to keep learning. I shot this event last year where there were about a hundred community awards with each one having a ‘shake hands and pose for the camera’ moment. My hit rate was very high, just because it was a relatively easy situation to control. But, a short burst would have saved the one shot out of the bunch where the recipient had their eyes closed mid-blink. I felt bad for the subject, like I let them down. On the other end, for a long series like that I’d need to make sure I had backup batteries on me, which I usually do. Next time I’ll shoot short bursts. I’ve been rehearsing this at home during lockdown, trying to get the timing right, experimenting with continuous high vs. low, etc. anyway thanks for the reply, and I’m most happy to support your channel, you bring something quite unique and valuable.
I Love your Tips, Gotta use these 2 weeks From now...I'll be on an event and Should I Use continous focusing? What do you usually use?
It depends on the situation and I think it would change for me depending on the camera I use.
Cool Alright I'm gonna Try and Experiment which works best for my Camera Thank You again!
I agree with everything you said; all your tips are valid. As a long term wedding/portrait photographer I think your advice is excellent. Also, altho I'm a few years older than you, we have similar beliefs in the photography passion/business. I want to add a tip for photographers who shoot with Canon cameras, altho other camera brands may offer this option, I only shoot Canon anymore so I'm not sure about other brands--you'll have to check your owners manual or download a pdf manual for your camera on line. From the Canon 7D on Canon has a feature I use all the time with autofocus but I've never seen anyone, at least on youtube or anywhere for that matter, mention this feature. It's the ability to select an autofocus point for horizontal and vertical shooting, grip up or down, if you use a grip, which I do. Each time you use your camera when you half press your shutter buttom it will go to the focus point you selected automatically. I select the center one for horizontal and one 2/3 up the screen for my verticals. My reasoning: Horizontal I can find the nearest eye quickly with the focus point centered in the center and if I want a vertical portrait when I flip the camera vertical the focus point automatically changes to 2/3 up my frame so I can find the eye very easy and the subject is correctly framed with the eyes about 2/3 at the top of the frame. If you want to push the focus button and scroll to another point you can, but unless you go back in and change it these two focus points will be your go to points. As I mentioned the 7D, 7DMKII, 6DMKII, 5DMKIV, and EOS R have this capability. I have a 5D Mark II and it doesn't have this feature, but I think the 7D came out after the 5DMKII so it's a bit newer. I also teach workshops and classes and I show all my students this feature. For me it's a time saver and I use it all the time.
Thanks Guy,
Let me know if we are talking about the same thing, but I have my camera set up to do the following:
When I rotate my camera, it recalls where I last left my auto focus point. Additionally, I have programmed my * button to automatically back focus on the center auto focus point. When I release the * button the camera immediately returns to whatever focus point I had manually set it to.
I should have a video coming in the future in which I go over how I customize and handle my camera btw.
@@MikMilman No, what you are doing is similar, but it's not an auto recall. Regardless of which focus point you last used, if say you were shooting vertical and went to horizontal the focus point you set at horizontal would be there and if you shifted vertical the focus point you originally selected, not the last one used, would be there. And I didn't program my * button, all I did was program for horizontal and vertical focus points to automatically be where I wanted them. And for the Canon EOS6D MKII this feature isn't in the manual, but it's in the pdf download. They don't make it easy to find and I don't know why because you, like me, use this or a similar feature a lot. It's hard to beat for people shooting.
"It's about the quality of the work.
Make sure every shot counts,
shoot with intention."
- Mik Milman
That does sound like me.
@@MikMilman I'm an aspiring event photographer, and I watch your videos to learn a lot in this field, thanks for the tips.
Hi Mik, make a video on how you got clients when you started out.
I think I've talked a bit about that already. Do you have any specific questions?
This was vary helpful I have 2 events coming up
Nice. What area do you live in?
@@MikMilman northeast of Baltimore Maryland
Things are still slow to come back here in LA. I think it will be for a while. But at least I get to make content for you guys!
@@MikMilman I just did my first event last Saturday it went great any advice i’m only a year in and it seems like things are just starting to turn up
That's awesome!
hi mik do you know good programs that will watermark many photos at once? i am learning with ps. is there any others that are simple and fast? thank you for assistance.
If you have access to photoshop, you should have access to lightroom which has a way to batch export images with a watermark.
Should i upgrade my camera(eos 60d) or buy a new lens
I would need more information about your needs and goals to answer that.
Also a good tip is to be soo good looking and so polite so event organisers feed you for free even with alcohol. Also a good tip is not to drink alcohol :) btw weed makes shooting much more interesting and precise
I became professional photographer because I have bought Soooo much gear (because of Gas) so it was stupid to don’t shoot something serious with it. Thank good it is not my primary job…
Coming from a Canon 1D to an R5 I'm struggling with productivity with the cameras....
What do you mean?
@@MikMilman focusing for one. I just got the camera and I'm using mostly EF glass adapted right now. I am sure it's just a learning curve. But one struggle is easily switching to a single focus point and moving that focus point around.
@@MikMilman Also, the animal eye focus did not work well at all with the EF 70-200 2.8 lens. Everything I have read and seen on UA-cam suggested the converted EF lenses worked great. It's still far better than my old camera but I was a little disappointed. I plan on upgrading to RF class over time but currently my only RF is the cheap 50 mm 1.8. I am considering the super wide telephoto 2.8 for my first real RF glass. Any thoughts? I currently have the EF 24 to 105 F4, And the WR 70 to 200 2.8. I want to start with something that is ideal for event photography. Such as walk around party type shots.
Timestamp 6:00 Yes! I have always mentored that, the only time to upgrade your equipment is when your equipment can no longer deliver and fulfil your vision and support your skill, as a photographer. However, in this day and age, there is a caveat... that relates to sensor technology, A ten year old sensor, may function, but it might not deliver what your client thinks they need. cf 7D and M50, and even they are present day, "old school."
can you be my mentor ?
Check out my patron :)
11:40 Kai W in a nutshell
Is he like that? I don't watch his stuff.
@@MikMilman yes, he is like that
Love the content but please speak slower if possible:) 0:42
No buying advice, no instant gratification, no dopamine kick for me? Thanks for nothing Mik! :)
heh
Bro you could have left it at “get gud” and called it a day. That’s my advice for Dark Souls players anyways.
This is for starters not professionals
Not sure what you mean